ID :
128251
Wed, 06/16/2010 - 16:40
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/128251
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Amnesty slates Israel’s proposed inquiry into flotilla massacre
London, June 16, IRNA – Israel’s proposed investigation into its military attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla lacks transparency and is unlikely to ensure accountability over its massacre of humanitarian aid workers, according to Amnesty International.
The London-based human rights group said that the offer to set up a government-appointed commission represented “a missed opportunity” as there is nothing to indicate that its findings or recommendations will be binding.
“The Commission looks to be neither independent nor sufficiently transparent, the two international observers may be denied access to crucial information, and the Commission’s findings may not be used in future prosecutions.” said Amnesty’s Middle East director Malcolm Smart.
Any information considered “almost certain to cause substantial harm” to Israel’s national security or foreign relations, by the Commission chair can be withheld from the international observers, Smart warned.
“The processes of the Commission must be open, transparent and allow access to all information sources. It should not allow the political considerations of the Israeli government to determine which of its findings are made public,” he said.
Smart also said the stipulation that the findings of the Commission “cannot be used in future legal proceedings is particularly worrying”.
“It puts into serious question the possibility that anyone found to have ordered or committed human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law will be held accountable,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about the impartiality of former First Minister of Northern Ireland, David Trimble, as one of the observers after he recently joined the launch a ‘Friends of Israel’ initiative to deflect international criticism.
Despite the shortcomings and the failure by Israel still to carry independent investigations into the massacre of 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza 18 months ago, the proposal has been welcomed by the British government.
“At present, we believe that there is no reason why the inquiry announced by Israel today, with the external component that includes Lord Trimble, should not meet the requirements of the world to provide the answers necessary,” Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said on Monday.
But former shadow foreign secretary Sir Gerald Kaufman described calls for an inquiry into Israel’s massacre of humanitarian aid workers in international waters as pointless “distractions that impede action”.
“It makes no difference whether the inquiry into the attack on the flotilla is conducted internally by Israel or internationally,” said Kaufman, who is Jewish and a self-confessed Zionist.
“Even an international inquiry would not change Israeli policy,” Kaufman warned during a parliamentary debate on UK policy in the Middle East./end
The London-based human rights group said that the offer to set up a government-appointed commission represented “a missed opportunity” as there is nothing to indicate that its findings or recommendations will be binding.
“The Commission looks to be neither independent nor sufficiently transparent, the two international observers may be denied access to crucial information, and the Commission’s findings may not be used in future prosecutions.” said Amnesty’s Middle East director Malcolm Smart.
Any information considered “almost certain to cause substantial harm” to Israel’s national security or foreign relations, by the Commission chair can be withheld from the international observers, Smart warned.
“The processes of the Commission must be open, transparent and allow access to all information sources. It should not allow the political considerations of the Israeli government to determine which of its findings are made public,” he said.
Smart also said the stipulation that the findings of the Commission “cannot be used in future legal proceedings is particularly worrying”.
“It puts into serious question the possibility that anyone found to have ordered or committed human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law will be held accountable,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about the impartiality of former First Minister of Northern Ireland, David Trimble, as one of the observers after he recently joined the launch a ‘Friends of Israel’ initiative to deflect international criticism.
Despite the shortcomings and the failure by Israel still to carry independent investigations into the massacre of 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza 18 months ago, the proposal has been welcomed by the British government.
“At present, we believe that there is no reason why the inquiry announced by Israel today, with the external component that includes Lord Trimble, should not meet the requirements of the world to provide the answers necessary,” Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said on Monday.
But former shadow foreign secretary Sir Gerald Kaufman described calls for an inquiry into Israel’s massacre of humanitarian aid workers in international waters as pointless “distractions that impede action”.
“It makes no difference whether the inquiry into the attack on the flotilla is conducted internally by Israel or internationally,” said Kaufman, who is Jewish and a self-confessed Zionist.
“Even an international inquiry would not change Israeli policy,” Kaufman warned during a parliamentary debate on UK policy in the Middle East./end
